Group comes full circle to mark decade of fun
HMR Circle, which provides support for the borough’s older residents, has celebrated the tenth anniversary of its first social event.
The first ever Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Circle (HMR Circle) event took place on November 6, 2012, at the Olde Boars Head in Middleton.
Now, 10 years to the day the service returned for a sold out lunch at the pub to mark the special occasion – with Alan and Joan, two original attendees joining the meal.
Since the first event 2,512 different members have attended 6,774 Circle social events.
Circle director Mark Wynn said the service has come a long way in ten years.
He said: “At major landmarks like this we like to reflect on the journey Circle
has undertaken. When we started, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing loaned us a little office above an old post office and now we have a new modern office.
“Our core theme is to reduce social isolation and loneliness in older people but we never phrase it like that.
“It’s about having a good time and doing the things you want to do when you want to do them and with the people you like to be with, it’s a very simple project.”
Mark, who spoke after returning from one of the service’s regular ‘Lunch Club’ events, reflected on the beginnings of the Circle – which was initially part of a wider organisation before striking out on its own.
“The event at the Old Boars was a dipping the toe in the water test event,” said Mark. “We eventually did a formal launch at the Pioneer Museum on Toad Lane. Going to somewhere that put Rochdale on the map with the Co-op, that has some good memories.
“We had an early event at the town hall which was just manic, we didn’t know how many people would come along but in the end we had something like 350 people and they had to close the town hall! “You look back with a bit of a wry smile and think ‘oh my gosh!’”
Mark said there had been numerous meals and tours, including a recent trip to Blackpool, and counted the hot air balloon event among his favourites.
HMR Circle’s other activities included a dinner driver’s service, a digital support service and a volunteer drivers service.
“We’re ambitious and we want to tackle it across Greater Manchester,” said Mark.
“We’re in a good palace, the first 10 years have been really exciting and we’re hoping to replicate it for the next ten as well.”